Unofficial Translation
Alien Registration Act, B.E. 2493 (1950)1
In the name of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
HRH Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi, Prince of Chainat
Regent
Given on the 3rd Day of November B.E. 2493 (1950)
Being the 5th Year of the Present Reign
Whereas it is expedient to have a law on alien registration;
Be it, therefore, enacted by the King, by and with the advice and consent of the
National Assembly, as follows:
Section 1. This Act shall be called the "Alien Registration Act, B.E. 2493 (1950)".
Section 2. This Act shall come into force after the expiration of thirty days from
the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.2
Section 3. The Alien Registration Act, B.E. 2479 (A.D. 1936), the Alien Registration
Act (No. 2), B.E. 2481 (A.D. 1938), the Alien Registration Act (No. 3), B.E. 2481 (A.D. 1938), and the
Alien Registration Act (No. 4), B.E. 2483 (A.D. 1940), shall be repealed.
1
Translated by Center for Translation and Language Services, Research Institute for
Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University under contract for the Office of the Council of State of
Thailand's Law for ASEAN project.- Initial version- pending review and approval.
2
Published in the Government Gazette Vol. 67, Part 62, Page 984, dated 14th November
B.E. 2493 (A.D. 1950)
DISCLAIMER: THIS TEXT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL/ COMPREHENSION PURPOSES AND CONTAINS
NO LEGAL AUTHORITY. THE OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE SHALL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
LIABILITIES ARISING FROM THE USE AND/OR REFERENCE OF THIS TEXT. THE ORIGINAL THAI TEXT AS FORMALLY
ADOPTED AND PUBLISHED SHALL IN ALL EVENTS REMAIN THE SOLE AUTHORITY HAVING LEGAL FORCE.
2
Section 4. In this Act:
"Alien" means a person who does not possess Thai nationality according to the
law on nationality;
"Identity certificate" means an alien identity document issued by the Registrar in
accordance with this Act;
"Registrar" means an official appointed by the Minister for the execution of this Act;
“Householder" means a person who occupies a house as the owner, the lessee
or in any other capacity;
In the case where the householder is not present to be in charge of the house
himself or herself but has entrusted any other person with the charge of the house, the person
having such charge shall be regarded as the householder only throughout the period he or she
is in charge of it;
"Minister" means the Minister who has charge and control of this Act.
Section 5. Any alien having completed twelve years of age or more and residing
in the Kingdom shall have an identity certificate.
Section 6. Requisition for an identity certificate shall be made by submission of
an application together with three photographs to the Registrar of the locality in which the alien
is domiciled in the form and procedure prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations.
Section 7. An alien having completed twelve years of age or an alien having
received an immigrant permit according to the law on immigration, shall apply for an identity
certificate within seven days from the date on which he or she has completed twelve years of
age or from the date on which he or she has received the immigrant permit, as the case may
be. In the latter case, particularly, the alien shall also state the number of aliens brought with
him or her, if any, who are under twelve years of age in order that the Registrar shall make note
of the fact in his or her identity certificate.
Section 8. A Thai national who has lost Thai nationality for whatever reason,
shall apply for an identity certificate from the Registrar of the locality in which he or she is
DISCLAIMER: THIS TEXT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL/ COMPREHENSION PURPOSES AND CONTAINS
NO LEGAL AUTHORITY. THE OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE SHALL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
LIABILITIES ARISING FROM THE USE AND/OR REFERENCE OF THIS TEXT. THE ORIGINAL THAI TEXT AS FORMALLY
ADOPTED AND PUBLISHED SHALL IN ALL EVENTS REMAIN THE SOLE AUTHORITY HAVING LEGAL FORCE.
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residing within thirty days from the date he or she has or ought to have learned of the loss of
Thai nationality.
Section 9. Upon the examination of the identity certificate application and the
Registrar finds that it is accurate, he or she shall issue an identity certificate.
The appearance, dimensions, and particulars of the identity certificate shall be as
prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations. At least it shall contain particulars of name, date of
birth, occupation, nationality, and residence address together with a photograph of such alien.
The signature of the Registrar shall also be affixed.
Section 10. The validity duration of the identity certificate shall be fixed as
follows:
1. Category one - one year.
2. Category two - five years.
Such duration of validity shall begin as from the date of issuance. In applying for
an identity certificate, the applicant may apply for either category.
Section 11.3 For the issuance or renewal of identity certificate, a fee shall be
collected at the rate prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations but not exceeding four hundred
baht per year.
For the issuance of a substitute for identity certificate in case the original is lost
or damaged, a fee shall be collected at the rate prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations but
not exceeding two hundred baht.
Section 12.4 An alien who changes his or her domicile or residence shall present
his or her identity certificate to the Registrar of the locality where originally he or she has his or
her domicile or residence in order that the fact of such change may be recorded in his or her
identity certificate before he or she has made the change, and shall report to the Registrar of
the locality where he or she takes up his or her residence within forty eight hours as from the
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4
Section 11 as amended by the Alien Registration Act, (No.2), B.E. 2495 (1952)
Section 12 as amended by the Alien Registration Act, (No.3), B.E. 2497 (1954)
DISCLAIMER: THIS TEXT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL/ COMPREHENSION PURPOSES AND CONTAINS
NO LEGAL AUTHORITY. THE OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE SHALL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
LIABILITIES ARISING FROM THE USE AND/OR REFERENCE OF THIS TEXT. THE ORIGINAL THAI TEXT AS FORMALLY
ADOPTED AND PUBLISHED SHALL IN ALL EVENTS REMAIN THE SOLE AUTHORITY HAVING LEGAL FORCE.
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date of his or her arrival but it shall not be longer than thirty days from the date of the
notification of change.
In the case where an alien has temporarily gone outside the provincial limit
wherein he or she has his or her domicile or residence for more than seven days, he or she
shall report to the Registrar of the locality where he or she is temporarily staying within forty
eight hours. Such report may be made in person or in writing in accordance with the form
prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations.
In the case of death of an alien, the householder of the house in which the alien
died shall report the death to the Registrar of the locality in which that alien died within
twenty-four hours as from the time of death.
Section 13. An alien whose identity certificate expires or is materially damaged
or lost, shall report to the Registrar of the locality in which he or she has domicile or residence
within seven days from the expiration date or from the day the damage or loss has become
known in order to renew or apply for a substitute for the identity certificate, as the case may be.
Section 14. In the case where the holder of an identity certificate is naturalized
or changes his or her occupation, first name, middle name, or surname, he or she shall report
to the Registrar of the locality in which he or she has domicile or residence by presenting the
identity certificate within seven days from the date of change, as the case may be.
Section 15. Whoever is a guardian of an alien who is incapacitated or a guardian
or a legal representative of an alien who is a minor younger than sixteen years of age, such
a person shall have the duty to perform as provided in this Act for such alien.
Section 16. This Act shall not apply to the following aliens:
(1) Official or employee of the Thai Government under a contract for so long as
the contract remains effective.
(2) Person about whom a foreign Government has notified the Government that
he or she is dispatched on an official mission, and the family of the said person, during the
period when he or she discharges his or her mission.
DISCLAIMER: THIS TEXT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL/ COMPREHENSION PURPOSES AND CONTAINS
NO LEGAL AUTHORITY. THE OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE SHALL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
LIABILITIES ARISING FROM THE USE AND/OR REFERENCE OF THIS TEXT. THE ORIGINAL THAI TEXT AS FORMALLY
ADOPTED AND PUBLISHED SHALL IN ALL EVENTS REMAIN THE SOLE AUTHORITY HAVING LEGAL FORCE.
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(3) Bearer of travelling document issued by the United Nations and the
document is still valid.
(4) Person who is not an immigrant under the law on immigration.
The aliens thus exempted, if desirous of applying for an identity certificate, shall
present their photographs to the Registrar, and the Registrar shall issue them the identity
certificate. In such a case, the alien concerned shall not pay any fee and need not comply with
the provisions of this Act in so far as the identity certificate is concerned.
Section 17. Aliens who are required to have identity certificate shall carry the
identity certificate with them or keep the same in a manner ready to show it to the
administrative official or police officer at all times at the request of the administrative official or
police officer.
Section 18. The identity certificate of an exile from the Kingdom under the law
on deportation or a repatriate under the law on immigration or a person who leaves the
Kingdom except only temporarily and with permission to return, shall be revoked and such
alien shall return the identity certificate to the Registrar.
The identity certificate of a deceased alien shall be returned to the Registrar by
its possessor or finder.
Section 19. In any area or any case which the Minister deems it expedient to
grant respite or exemption of the fees or the performance under this Act, the Minister shall
have the power to grant respite or exemption thereof by publication in the Government
Gazette.
If deemed fit, the Minister may grant respite or exemption of the fees or the
performance under this Act for a special individual case.
Section 20.5 Any person who does not have the identity certificate under
section 5 or does not renew the expired identity certificate under section 13 or fails to comply
with the provisions of section 7 shall be liable to an annual fine of not exceeding five hundred
5
Section 20 as amended by the Alien Registration Act, (No.2), B.E. 2495 (1952)
DISCLAIMER: THIS TEXT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL/ COMPREHENSION PURPOSES AND CONTAINS
NO LEGAL AUTHORITY. THE OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE SHALL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
LIABILITIES ARISING FROM THE USE AND/OR REFERENCE OF THIS TEXT. THE ORIGINAL THAI TEXT AS FORMALLY
ADOPTED AND PUBLISHED SHALL IN ALL EVENTS REMAIN THE SOLE AUTHORITY HAVING LEGAL FORCE.
6
baht each year throughout the said non-compliance period. A fraction of one year shall be
counted as one year.
Section 21.6 Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of section 8
shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred baht.
Section 22.7 Any person who does not apply for a substitute for an identity
certificate which has been damaged or lost in accordance with section 13 or who does not
comply with the provisions of section 12, section 14, section 17 or Section 18 shall be liable to
a fine not exceeding one thousand baht.
Section 23. Any person having the duty to perform in compliance with the
provisions of this Act for the alien under section 15 fails to do so, shall be liable to penalties as
prescribed in section 20 or section 22, as the case may be.
An incapacitated person or a minor under 16 years of age shall not be penalized
for offences under this Act only in the event there is in existence a guardian; or a guardian or a
legal representative
Section 24. The alien identity certificates already in existence prior to the
coming into force of this Act shall be usable until their expiration.
Section 25. The Minister of Interior shall have charge and control of this Act and
shall have power to issue Ministerial Regulations for the execution of this Act.
Such Ministerial Regulations shall come into force upon their publication in the
Government Gazette.
Countersigned by:
Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram
Prime Minister
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7
Section 21 as amended by the Alien Registration Act, (No.2), B.E. 2495 (1952)
Section 22 as amended by the Alien Registration Act, (No.2), B.E. 2495 (1952)
DISCLAIMER: THIS TEXT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL/ COMPREHENSION PURPOSES AND CONTAINS
NO LEGAL AUTHORITY. THE OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE SHALL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
LIABILITIES ARISING FROM THE USE AND/OR REFERENCE OF THIS TEXT. THE ORIGINAL THAI TEXT AS FORMALLY
ADOPTED AND PUBLISHED SHALL IN ALL EVENTS REMAIN THE SOLE AUTHORITY HAVING LEGAL FORCE.